Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Left-hander Anthony Mazzurco fired five innings of three-hit baseball to move to 4-0 on the year and Jordon Austin blasted a three-run homer to power Forest past Vanguard, 10-1, Friday night at Forest Field.

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It was the sixth straight win for the 'Cats over their city rivals, outscoring the Knights 40-6 over that span.

Mazzurco, who came into the game having allowed just nine hits and one earned run through 16 1/3 innings, was again in total control. He mixed his pitches effectively, scattering lone singles in three separate innings. He struck out three and walked three before turning it over to fellow senior Robert Ritterhoff for the final two frames.

The big righty retired six of the final seven hitters – three on strikeouts – to slam the door on the Knights and move Forest to 10-2 on the season.

“Our pitching has been good all year,” Forest coach Wayne Yancey said. “We've just been a little inconsistent with the hitting, but I feel good about where we are. We're 2-0 in the district (7A-1), so if our pitching keeps coming around, we'll be ok.”

The Wildcats scratched out single runs in the first and second innings off Vanguard starter Darren Kelly. But after Ben Ellzey's RBI groundout and Richard Legasse's run-scoring fielder's choice gave Forest the early 2-0 lead, the Knights responded with their best offensive surge.

Preston Stephens got it started with a one-out walk and freshman Tommy Knowd followed with a solid base hit to right center. With Stephens on third, Jacob Grant delivered an RBI fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 2-1.

But Mazzurco settled back in, holding Vanguard to a pair of baserunners over the next two innings before handing it off to Ritterhoff. The two pitchers allowed just four hits – all singles – and three walks against a Knights lineup that has been fighting it on their way to a 3-8 start to the 2013 season.

“We're struggling offensively; we've had some setbacks,” Vanguard coach Mike Bullock said. “We're working hard every day and the spirits are still good. We're just not getting it done right now.

“It's all about momentum. If we can get some things to break our way this thing can take off. We've got two district games next week, so we still control our own destiny as far as that goes. That's what we're striving for: the No. 1 seed.”

Forest, on the other hand, used Friday to get some key bats going. Six different Wildcats drove in runs and seven scored on a night the lineup produced 10 hits, including two each by Sam Armstrong (2 runs, SB), Hank Truluck (double, 2 runs, 2 SBs) and Austin (HR, 3 RBIs, walk).

It was the shortstop Truluck who broke open a close game when he ignited a seven-run fourth inning with a lead-off double. Kirby McMullen, the only freshman on the Wildcat roster, followed with an RBI double and Mazzurco added a run-scoring single to chase Kelly.

Josh Greene greeted reliever Timothy Shotwell with a solid single. Two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball allowed a pair of Wildcats to score as Shotwell failed to record an out.

Bullock was forced to the bullpen again, this time calling on left-hander Stephen Johnson. But Austin jumped on his first offering, driving it deep over the centerfield wall to push the lead to 9-1.

Truluck capped the scoring when his single plated Ellzey, who singled to start the sixth.

“We've been up and down, consistent-wise, with the top of our order,” Yancey said. “People have done a good job of pitching around some of our better hitters. But we felt like they would make the adjustment like they did tonight. Jordon is starting to really hit it.”

Forest will travel to old nemesis Gainesville High – which handed the 'Cats one of their two losses on the season, a 7-1 loss back in Late February -- Tuesday night in a non-district game.

Vanguard, meanwhile, will try to run its District 6A-5 mark to 3-2 when the Knights host league foe Leesburg on Tuesday.

<p>Left-hander Anthony Mazzurco fired five innings of three-hit baseball to move to 4-0 on the year and Jordon Austin blasted a three-run homer to power Forest past Vanguard, 10-1, Friday night at Forest Field.</p><p>It was the sixth straight win for the 'Cats over their city rivals, outscoring the Knights 40-6 over that span.</p><p>Mazzurco, who came into the game having allowed just nine hits and one earned run through 16 1/3 innings, was again in total control. He mixed his pitches effectively, scattering lone singles in three separate innings. He struck out three and walked three before turning it over to fellow senior Robert Ritterhoff for the final two frames.</p><p>The big righty retired six of the final seven hitters – three on strikeouts – to slam the door on the Knights and move Forest to 10-2 on the season.</p><p>“Our pitching has been good all year,” Forest coach Wayne Yancey said. “We've just been a little inconsistent with the hitting, but I feel good about where we are. We're 2-0 in the district (7A-1), so if our pitching keeps coming around, we'll be ok.”</p><p>The Wildcats scratched out single runs in the first and second innings off Vanguard starter Darren Kelly. But after Ben Ellzey's RBI groundout and Richard Legasse's run-scoring fielder's choice gave Forest the early 2-0 lead, the Knights responded with their best offensive surge.</p><p>Preston Stephens got it started with a one-out walk and freshman Tommy Knowd followed with a solid base hit to right center. With Stephens on third, Jacob Grant delivered an RBI fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 2-1.</p><p>But Mazzurco settled back in, holding Vanguard to a pair of baserunners over the next two innings before handing it off to Ritterhoff. The two pitchers allowed just four hits – all singles – and three walks against a Knights lineup that has been fighting it on their way to a 3-8 start to the 2013 season.</p><p>“We're struggling offensively; we've had some setbacks,” Vanguard coach Mike Bullock said. “We're working hard every day and the spirits are still good. We're just not getting it done right now.</p><p>“It's all about momentum. If we can get some things to break our way this thing can take off. We've got two district games next week, so we still control our own destiny as far as that goes. That's what we're striving for: the No. 1 seed.”</p><p>Forest, on the other hand, used Friday to get some key bats going. Six different Wildcats drove in runs and seven scored on a night the lineup produced 10 hits, including two each by Sam Armstrong (2 runs, SB), Hank Truluck (double, 2 runs, 2 SBs) and Austin (HR, 3 RBIs, walk).</p><p>It was the shortstop Truluck who broke open a close game when he ignited a seven-run fourth inning with a lead-off double. Kirby McMullen, the only freshman on the Wildcat roster, followed with an RBI double and Mazzurco added a run-scoring single to chase Kelly.</p><p>Josh Greene greeted reliever Timothy Shotwell with a solid single. Two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball allowed a pair of Wildcats to score as Shotwell failed to record an out.</p><p> Bullock was forced to the bullpen again, this time calling on left-hander Stephen Johnson. But Austin jumped on his first offering, driving it deep over the centerfield wall to push the lead to 9-1.</p><p>Truluck capped the scoring when his single plated Ellzey, who singled to start the sixth.</p><p>“We've been up and down, consistent-wise, with the top of our order,” Yancey said. “People have done a good job of pitching around some of our better hitters. But we felt like they would make the adjustment like they did tonight. Jordon is starting to really hit it.”</p><p>Forest will travel to old nemesis Gainesville High – which handed the 'Cats one of their two losses on the season, a 7-1 loss back in Late February -- Tuesday night in a non-district game.</p><p>Vanguard, meanwhile, will try to run its District 6A-5 mark to 3-2 when the Knights host league foe Leesburg on Tuesday.</p>